FORMER Colne professional Charl Langeveldt is back in Britain next week - but he has far more important matters than cricket to deal with.

His girlfriend Kimberley is due to give birth some time soon so he is flying in from South Africa on Monday to make sure he is here for the big event.

The 27-year-old played just six games for Colne before having to return home due to injury - he had ligament damage.

But Kimberley, who normally lives on the Isle of Wight, stayed behind - kindly put up by Colne teammate Gary Hunt.

Colne captain Nick Moulding said everyone was looking forward to see Langeveldt again.

"We thought Charl was great," he said. "He was an outstanding player, he played seven times for us and took 29 wickets.

"We were heartbroken when he had to go home. When he got his injury he was back on the first plane.

"We are all looking forward to seeing him again."

Moulding says Langeveldt's departure 'crucified' the side, who are at home to Enfield tomorrow, and it took them weeks to get back on track.

Prior to his departure, Colne won four and lost three of their opening seven games and were in eighth position in the Transco Lancashire League.

After he left, they had a run of three no results and three defeats before happening upon their new pro Adnam Malik.

"We seem to have turned the corner now," said Moulding. "We seem to be a lot more settled, we have won a couple on the trot and now we are fourth.

"But I have told the lads not to get carried away. We have to keep ploughing on and be ready for every game.

"It is only two or three weeks since we were fifth from bottom but since the new pro has come in things have really turned around.

"We have got him now for every game until the end of the season except for the Haslingden away game because we had already contracted Lee Carseldine, who plays for Littleborough, to play in that one."

Malik found his way to East Lancashire via a team in Yorkshire, who contracted him to play for them this season but then hit financial difficulties and cancelled the contract.

He ended up in Colne, living with family, and when he heard Langeveldt had been sent home, he took his chance.

"He came down to training and we have gone from there.

"He has turned our season around. It has brought a bit of continuity to the side and it helps because he is coming practising twice a week and he has fitted in well. He is one of the lads."

Moulding, who is in his first year as captain, now hopes the side can push into the top two.

"We want to build on what we have already done and get second place. It will be tough for anybody to catch Bacup, though, they'll have to have a massive slip-up now.

"But I want to us finish as high as we can. If we finish in the bottom two they might not ask me to be captain again."

TOMORROW'S FIXTURES: Accrington v Nelson, Colne v Enfield, East Lancs v Burnley, Haslingden v Bacup, Lowerhouse v Rishton, Rawtenstall v Ramsbottom, Todmorden v Church.